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LAWS 



American Whist. 



REVISED AND CORRECTED. 



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CHICAGO: 

BAENAKD & GUNTHOKP, PEINTERS, 

1890. 



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PREFAC 



The laws of American Whist are yet to be written, 
and established by the approval of the Clubs and 
whist players generally. 

To present in a handy form the Rules by which 
the game has hitherto been mostly governed, with 
such emendations and material additions as the 
experience of many judicious persons has shown to 
be necessary or desirable; to invite other whist 
players to co-operate in constructing a Code of 
Laws which shall be clear, concise, complete, and 
satisfactory as a standard authority on the game in 
future— these are the objects of this publication. 

No Code worthy the name yet exists. Ten years 
ago an attempt was made by a Boston expert to 
foist upon the public, as established laws of Ameri- 
can Whist, a set of Rules, some fifteen in number, 
which, great as was the want of something of the 
sort, were too ill digested, imperfect, and impracti- 
cable to meet with favor in Whist Circles. Disgusted 
with the bad writing and ' snarling temper of a pre- 
sumptuous braggart,' it is no wonder that our new 
school failed to accord to his work the little consid- 
eration it really merited, and that they were driven 
either to reform and continue the old game, accept- 



ing its laws and decisions, or to modify and adapt to 
the new game as best they could, the comprehensive 
and elaborated codes of Europe which, although 
inapplicable in many respects to American Whist, 
did nevertheless represent what may be called the 
Common Law of Whist, upon whose principles the 
statutes of our own Cis-Atlantic game must of neces- 
sity be founded. 

The absence of any agreed standard or concert 
of action among players of our improved game 
naturally occasioned a lack of uniformity; with this 
consequence ; that embarrassing varieties of usage 
have arisen, and obtain even now among our Whist 
Clubs and Circles throughout the country. 

We think the time is come when it is possible, 
perhaps easy, to secure that agreement and uniform- 
ity which are so desirable through the action of a 
Congress^ to be composed of representatives from 
the leading Clubs of the principal cities of the 
United States, which might compile and report a 
code, to be submitted for trial, and adopted if 
approved. 

The following pages are a contribution toward 
that end. Meanwhile they may supply a present 
want. 

The Laws as here given are familiar in substance to 
all players. The language of " Cavendish' ' and even 
of " G. W. P." has been conserved where possible. 
All accessible Codes have been consulted, from 



the first i8 Laws of Hoyle down to the last 85 of 

Mr. Henry Jones. From them much more might 

be borrowed; but of little value, and rare use. 

Herein nothing essential has been omitted; nothing 

superfluous admitted. The few changes in our rules 

which are proposed will commend themselves to the 

judgment of those who think that laws ought not 

to be on the statute book which are not and 

cannot be obeyed or enforced. (See I.. 8.) Some 

points may be debatable, but all have been well 

considered. It is hopefully believed that this httle 

digest cannot fail to be found useful, — until a better 

shall appear. 

* * * 



Lh¥S of Smericin ¥hist. 



1. Four persons out of any number, 
either by agreement or by cutting or 
drawing lower cards than other candi- 
dates, form a table. These four may 
agree, or cut to decide, who shall be 
partners. In cutting the ace is low; and 
the two highest play against the two 
lowest. 

2. The first dealer is that player of the 
four who has cut or drawn the lowest 
card. The player on his left shuffles the 
pack chosen by the dealer; who passes 
the pack to the player on his right who 
then cuts, not leaving fewer than four 
cards in either packet, and placing the 
cut nearest the centre of the table. The 
under card is the trump card, which must 
not be known until turned. If, when 



cutting, any card be exposed, the pack 
must be cut again. 

3. While the dealer is dealing, his 
partner shuffles the other pack,* and 
places it at the left hand of his own 
right-hand opponent, who is next to deal. 
The pack may be shuffled by any or all the 
other players; and by the dealer last. 

4. It is a mis-deal and the deal is lost 
if thirteen cards, one at a time in regular 
rotation beginning at the dealer's left, be 
not separately placed before each player; 
or if the dealer count the cards on the 
table or those undealt in his hand; or if 
the last card be not turned up at the 
dealer's right hand. Should a card be 
exposed in dealing, or faced in the pack, 
a new deal may be demanded by oppon- 
ents. 

5. Until the trump card is turned, the 
cards must not be gathered nor touched 
except by the dealer. If this be done, 

*Two packs of cards, of different colors, are generally used. 



9 

and a mis-deal be made, the dealer deals 
again. 

6. The trump card shall remain upon 
the table at the right hand of the dealer 
until three players have played; and shall 
be taken into hand before the completion 
of the second round. 

7. Each player upon taking up his 
cards should count them. If he have not 
exactly thirteen he must report the mis- 
take before he plays a card. If at the 
close of a hand a player is known to have 
held more or less than thirteen cards, his 
side loses a point. If any player has 
fourteen, it is a mis-deal, even though the 
hand has been partly played out. If less 
than thirteen, and the other players have 
their proper number, search must be 
made for the missing card, and, if found, 
(in the other pack, on the floor, or else- 
where,) the player to whom it belongs is 
liable for any revoke he may have made 
in the suit for want of it.* 

* Law 26, New Cavendish. Hoyle, all editions. Universal law. 
But see A.m. Whist Illus., L, 7. 



10 



8. No conversation is permitted during 
the play of the hand. Good whist de- 
mands silence. Talking must cease when 
the first card is led, and silence must con- 
tinue until the last card is pla37ed (1): 
Except, that a player may — 

{a.') Name an exposed card; 

{b?) Claim a trick wrongly appropriated; 

(^.) Call attention to an offense or irregularity 

that could not be proven when the hand 

were played out; 
(rt^.) Ask ' what are trumps'; (?) 
(<?.) Require cards to be placed, or partners^ 

drawn ; ( ?) 
(/.) Ask ' have you none of the suit^ partner' (?); 

without violating the law of silence. 

(i.) Surely speech is allowable under circum- 
stances indicated in the law as here given. The 
questions " Who dealt?'' "Is there not a revoke?" 
"Shall I name the penalty?" and others, are also 
allowed in most of the Parisian and London clubs. 
To prohibit all these sometimes necessary questions, 
as has been attempted lately among us, makes the 
game (me judice) not better, but only more difficult 
and embarrassing. Haud inexpertus loquor. Most 
grotesque and ludicrous it is to see four players, 



11 



inexperienced in these novel restrictions, convulsed 
in struggling to keep the law of absolute silence in 
some exigency of the game which demands prompt 
speech; such as the right to a trick, or a lead. Their 
dumb show— as of deaf mutes — -generally ends in 
their giving it up, breaking down, and— exploding 
all together. 

Silence is golden, but it works best with some 
alloy. It is a weak affectation in its ultra advocates 
to pretend that their play requires a mental con- 
centration so complete, and calculations so pro- 
found, as not to admit of the interjection of a word 
proper to the business of the game. The best 
apology that could be made for these extremists 
would be the plea that they aim above the mark in 
in order to hit the mark. 

In Clubs where the '' rigor of this law" has not 
yet been formally relaxed, some relief is obtained 
under the following by-law; '' Penalties for viola- 
tions of the law of silence may, for justifying reasons, 
be remitted, on appeal, by the Whist Committee." 

Ed. 

9. No intimation shall be given in any 
way as to the constitution of the player's 
hand, nor manifestation made by word, 
look, or act, of approval or disapproval 
of the play. No card shall be drawn from 



12 



the hand until needed to play in turn, nor 
played with an emphasis that calls atten- 
tion to its value.* 

10. A player may move the cards on 
the table so as to see them all before 
playing, and may direct his partner to 
draw his card ;f but a player who points oijt 
his card, or says ' this is mine^' without 
being asked, is subject to penalty. 

11. Every trick completed must be 
gathered before the next lead is made. 
No trick shall be examined after being 
gathered and turned. 

12. Exposed cards (1) are cards which, 
whether fallen on table, played in error, 
or held in hand, may be seen by partner, 
(2) and convey to him information. The 
penalty is one point for each card. But 
cards dropped on the floor or held in hand 
so as to be seen by the adversaries only, 
are not liable to penalty. (3.) 

* Lex non scripta, until now. 

t " Each person ought to lay his card before him. After he has 
done so, if either of the adverse party mix their cards with his, 
his partner is entitled to demand each person to lay his card before 
him: but not to enquire who plaved any particular card." Hoyle, 
Edits. 1755-79-86, et seq. 



13 



(i.) Under existing American Rules the penalty 
for exposed cards is much less severe and effective 
than under the English code. Under our rules the 
loss of only one point for exposure may be more than 
compensated by the gain of tricks won through the 
information conveyed to partner by the card; where- 
as, under Short Whist rules, the punishment of 
having a card or suit " called " by the adversaries 
is a strong prudential check to carelessness in play. 
'' Ed. 

(5.) A different decision was given by " Caven- 
dish " and James Clay, in the famous case of ' the 
lowered hand,' which provoked an indignant con- 
troversy between whist authorities all over the 
world. This decision, however, was forced upon 
them in interpreting strictly the imperfect language 
of the laws relating to exposure in the P. & A. code. 
Mr. Jones' argument is ingenious ; but his conclusion 
seems 'monstrous' to those who look behind the 
law at the reason of the law, — which is here recog- 
nized. Ed. 

(3.) Likewise at the end of a hand, cards shown, 
or several played together, provided they are all 
winning cards, are not (technically) "exposed;" 
because, being sure tricks, no unfair advantage can 
be gained by their exhibition. It is better, however, 
in order to avoid confusion, and for the discovery of 
revokes, regularly to play the hands out. See Hoyle, 
law 18, Edit. 1755, et seq. Ed. 



14 



13. If a player plays out of turn, or a 
card of a wrong suit, or throws on the 
table two or more cards at once, or shows 
any card unless in playing it, he suffers 
the penalty of Law 18, for each card 
named. 

14. If a player lead out of turn, and all 
have followed, the trick holds good. The 
error can be corrected only before the 
fourth hand has played. Then, the cards 
may be withdrawn, and the leader alone 
pays penalty. 

15. If a player deal out of turn, or 
with the adversaries' pack, he may be 
stopped before the trump card is turned 
up. After it is turned, the game must 
proceed as though no mistake had been 
made. 

16. The game consists of seven points 
(reckoned by tricks and penalties), or 
as many more as may be made by the 
hand in which seven is reached. Each 
trick beyond six made by either side in 



15 



the play of the hand counts one point. 
The rubber Is two games won out of three 
played, or two games consecutively won, 
by the same side. 

17. Scores are kept in games, rubbers 
and points. The score of the hand must 
be called while the cards are in trick- 
packets; and the score of the game should 
be called before the cards are cut for the 
next deal. The cards are played for all 
the points that can be made, and every 
hand should be played out unless — the 
game being resigned b}^ the losers — the 
cards are thrown down by one or both of 
them. Then, for each card in any one 
hand, a point is taken and scored by the 
winners, as for a trick made. 

18. The penalty for the violation of 
any law (except that of revoke) is the 
forfeit of one point; to be deducted from 
the score of the offenders or added to the 
score of the adversaries, as they, upon 
consultation, or either of them by consent 



16 

of the other, shall elect. A penalty can- 
not be taken during the play, but must be 
claimed and scored before the cards are 
cut for the next deal. Penalties must 
always be enforced, and should be grace- 
fully submitted to. 

19. A revoke is the play of a card of a 
different suit while holding a card of the 
suit led. A revoke is complete when the 
trick has been turned and quitted, or when 
the revoking player or his partner has led 
or played to the following trick. 

But if the player renouncing a suit 
discover and correct his mistake before 
the trick is quitted, he suffers only the 
penalty of Law 18; and if, in the mean- 
time, other cards have been played, any 
or all of them can be recalled, without 
penalty. 

20. The penalty for a revoke is either 
three tricks taken from the offending 
party, or three points taken from their 
score, or three added to their adversaries' 



17 



score, at adversaries' option. The revoke 
is proved by the claimants if need be by 
examination of the tricks at the close of 
the hand. This penalty is scored prior 
to scoring the tricks made; and no score 
that wins the game can be made by the 
revoking party. 



Proposed New Law : The partner of a player 
who has led out of turn any suit, trumps for instance, 
shall not lead that suit to him at his first opportunity. 



ADVICE TO STUDENTS. 

For instruction in the Theory and Practice of 
Whist there is no reading comparable to the books of 
' Cavendish,' Pole and Proctor. On disputed cases 
Judge Mcintosh's ''Portland Rules, with Decisions 
thereunder" (Utica, New York, t888), should 
be consulted. On what is peculiar to the American 
game " G. W. P." is the only known authority. 
The Principles of whist are best explained and en- 
forced by the English writers on Short Whist, and the 
study of them is strongly recommended as the best 
preparation for the acquisition of the " advanced " 
American game. Ed. 



18 



Difficult Position. — A and B against Y and Z. — 
The trumps were all out, on invitation of A, who 
after six rounds remained with the lead and seven 
clubs, viz : ace, knave, ten, seven and three small. 
A led 7 c. ; Y, 5 c. ; B, K'g; Z, 8. Then B re- 
turned the 4 c. ; Z, 9 ; leaving A to play, against 
the queen alone. Its position was uncertain. It 
could not be with B ; and the chances seemed equal 
that it might be on either side. 

A, to secure a trick, declines to finesse, and plays 
the ace; but, — the queen being with Z — he makes 
no more in the suit. Had the O. been with Y, or 
the ten finessed against Z, five tricks more would 
have been made by A. 

Query, was A's play correct ? 

Most players who have not read, or read the 
books on American Whist alone, decide that A did 
right to play ace, and secure a trick, because the 
chance was even that th« queen lay to the left of 
him. Those, however, who have learned to apply 
in practice the doctrine of probabihties as exhibited 
in "The Philosophy of Whist," find a more satis- 
factory solution of the problem by inquiring ' what 
is the probable distribution of the six clubs not in 
A's hand'? 

Y has played one ; B, two ; Z, two ; and A 
plays ace on the assumption that Y also has re- 
ceived two clubs. 



19 



But the real chance of the six cards being dealt 
into three twos is only about one-seventh (1/7) of 
all the possible ways of distributing the six. In 
other words, the chances are nearly six to one 
against it. See Pole's Phil. Whist, Ch, 8. 

Ed, 




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